Jakarta (Antara) – The National Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) participated in the commemoration of World Environment Day 2023 by simultaneously planting 10,000 medicinal plants throughout Indonesia.
“Planting these (medicinal) plants is part of our movements. Together with all BPOM branches across Indonesia, we were able to plant 10,000 medicinal plants,” BPOM chief Penny K Lukito said in a press conference on Sunday.
They informed that the process of collecting saplings requires a long process. However, with active participation of all parties, the program can be conducted simultaneously in remote districts/cities.
Lukito said the medicinal plants are nutmeg, noni and moringa leaves. Representatives from related ministries and institutions such as Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture and National Development Planning Agency also participated in the planting programme.
Through its work, apart from being appointed as a regulator and supervisor in the manufacture and distribution of medicines and food, BPOM seeks to make people aware of its role in maintaining a sustainable environment.
“Our role includes ensuring the availability of a supply chain for the pharmaceutical and food industry, but prioritizing the sustainability of raw materials in a safe and effective manner,” she added.
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With an emphasis on sustainable product and consumption, BPOM urged all industry players to be vigilant about the production process that poses a risk to the environment, for example, an environment contaminated with hazardous materials.
This can be seen in cases of syrup drug poisoning in children due to excessive percentages of ethylene glycol (EG) and diethylene glycol (DEG), which can cause acute kidney failure, Lukito noted.
They added that if the production process is not up to standards and manufacturers decide to dump their waste into water, it could lead to water pollution or air pollution, endangering environmental quality.
She, therefore, reminded all parties, especially manufacturers in the pharmaceutical and food industries, to protect nature and be cautious in carrying out production activities that may damage the environment.
“We are really concerned about the production process and consumption. As a regulator, our agency plays a big role in providing incentives. BPOM provides strict measures while we regulate products under BPOM supervision,” she noted.
They also encourage the community to contribute to the future civilization of the nation’s children.
“We should engage in doing positive things to protect the environment,” she stressed.
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